She's a Gold Digger!!

I ordered the last piece of my Gold Digger-themed outfit for my competition...the pickaxe! I'm so excited that everything is coming together. My suits will be here sometime next week - I will check fitting, send back for any adjustments, and that's it! Ready to rock and roll! As for the pickaxe, I'm going to use my creative/crafty side and do something cute with the handle...maybe line it with gold fabric, and deck it out with some bling. I will leave the two axe points dark and maybe dip them in a glittery gold paint on the ends. I already got my hard hat in the mail. I'm so excited! Can't wait for my suits to get here!!

As for my training, I'm pretty lean according to my coach, so I am really focusing on the weights at this point. I'm lifting 6 days a week and started doing legs and shoulders two times a week - these are the two places that need the most work. I feel like I should do more abs, but they are there - I can feel them! They will show up the last couple of weeks when my diet is tweaked. I only do 30 minutes of cardio 5 times a week, but I try to make at least 4 out of 5 high intensity...no walking for me! I've been doing the stairmaster a lot to work on my stubborn thighs! I'm also getting in lots of posing practice. At minimum, I do 15 minutes 6 days a week. When I have some extra time I squeeze in an hour of practice - usually 2 times a week. I practiced yesterday in a room without mirrors...very different, but I need to get used to "feeling" what I'm doing rather than seeing it. Once my pickaxe gets here, I'm amping up the posing practice another notch. I need to get my props and attitude involved. It's time to make it fun! :)

Diet-wise, not a lot has changed. I'm eating a variety of clean foods everyday. I try to get in a gallon of water everday - this is a constant struggle for me! I'm also eating only one reward meal a week now...which is fine. I've been eating clean for so long now, that I don't really even crave junk food. I bought a little frozen yogurt parfait with strawberries for my reward this week...funny because 2 months ago I would have went for a DQ Blizzard or something! Lol.

On a side note - just for fun, I'm trying to train myself to like peppers. I'm starting with red peppers. I know they are loaded with nutrients. One of the best veggies you can eat! Problem is, I've always hated them! So, I'm trying. I've been chopping them into teeny tiny pieces and "hiding" them in my omelets in the morning. :) Today the pieces got a little bigger, and I think I'm getting used to them. It really is all mental. I decided to do this, not only because I know how good they are, but because I want to prove to people that you CAN eat healthy. I hear SO MANY people say, "Oh, I can't eat like that. I just don't like that kind of food." It's all in your head...our minds are so much stronger than our bodies, and they need to be trained too! Just a little tid bit. :)

So, I challenge you to try something you "don't like". As we grow up, our taste prefrences change - you might be surprised what you end up liking! Enjoy your day!

Savage Strut!

Well - at this point in competition prep, I'm pretty much ready to go. I am pretty confident that my body will look great for the show - my biggest concern at this point is getting my walk and posing down. This may seem small, but this is what counts when it all comes down to it. I have to walk with confidence, talk without saying a word, be cute-sexy and not sexy-sexy, and have fun - all within a 60 second time-frame. :) I've been practicing nearly everyday, and am starting to squeeze in 1-3 hour-long practices per week. I have it down - but I want it to be muscle memory (Army talk, lol) by the time October 2nd rolls around. I don't want to worry about anything on stage except my smile. I have about 6 1/2 weeks to go!!

On another note:
My girlfriends and I went and watched a small show this past weekend and decided we want a little bigger than Atlanta. So...we're going to Chicago!!! Same date, same federation, just a little bit bigger and another state. :) It is the Fitness America Midwest Show. I'm super excited and ready to rock and roll!!

8 Weeks to Competition!

Well, the countdown begins! This is the point where most competitors start cutting back on a lot of foods, and kick up the cardio. I've been doing really well on my dieting, so my coach is keeping my diet the same for a few more weeks. (Yay!) A few weeks from now, we'll be cutting back on carbs, and cutting out sugars (aka fruit). I'm feeling very fit and healthy. This is the best shape I've ever been in, and I'm really glad I've made it this far. I finally just gave in 100% to eating clean - and my body can tell! I don't crave junk anymore, and if I do get a sweet tooth every once in awhile, I have fun making clean treats for myself rather than indulging in something I'll regret later. As for the other components of the competition, I'm practicing my walking and posing for 15 minutes a day, and this week will be starting to add in an hour practice once or twice a week...you can look like a rockstar the day of the competition...but your stage presence is what will get you that win! I've got it down, but now I'm trying to make it better, add a little bit of "me" to it where I can. :) I've also ordered both my suit, and my themed outfit. (Yay!). I'll be buying my tanning supplies next, and doing a practice tan within the next couple of weeks...that could be amusing!

Well, that's all for now - hope everyone has a great day!

New Recipe!!!

I am SO happy about this one! I've been trying to find a healthy way to use up my ripe bananas and I finally did it! I got this recipe from a friend of mine who used apples instead of bananas.

Clean Eating Banana Bread:

1-1/2 to 2 ripe bananas (depending on your needs)
1c. Oatmeal - I used quick oats this time, but old-fashioned work too
2 scoops vanilla protien powder
3/4c. egg whites
1tsp. cinnamon
1tsp. pure vanilla extract

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mash bananas in a bowl, add other indredients, mix well. Spray casserole dish with Pam. Spread mixture into casserole dish and bake for 30 minutes. Let cool. Serves 4.

Like I said above, you can sub out the bananas for apples. That is good too. You could probably throw any fruit in here and it would be great. Next time I make these, I'm going to use chocolate protien to make it taste like dessert! :)

Enjoy!